Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me but Banjos Saved My Life has a pedigree, this is its fourth year at the Edinburgh Fringe, and it usually sells out. There’s a reason for that. This show is a truly affecting and life-affirming ride into Keith Alessi’s life.
Keith tells the story directly to the audience and engages us straight away, confessing he is a ‘retired executive’, a very successful one, it turns out, but ends up feeling unfulfilled. There is a deceptive simplicity to the story Keith tells. They are not delivering an acting showcase; there are no theatrical effects or dramatic suspense. It’s just one person talking about the turning point in their life: their cancer diagnosis and the closet full of banjos they’ve collected over the years. Yet, you are drawn into their story ever deeper. It’s poignant, hopeful and utterly compelling, avoiding sentimentality and mawkishness — and I defy you not to have a tear in your eye at key points.
During Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me but Banjos Saved My Life, Keith plays on different banjos throughout to explain a moment, to punctuate a thought, or to share a song with us. They aren’t the best player, something they confess very early into the show, but the sound of the banjo draws you in, and the way they self-deprecate with banjo jokes offsets their passion for the instrument.
Erika Conway produced and directed this with such a light touch you don’t even feel it’s been rehearsed. It’s very hard to build such authenticity and fluid storytelling, and they have mastered that art in this show. There is a subtle use of dimmed lights to frame a key moment, a well-timed banjo song, or a held moment of stillness before a revelation.
Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me but Banjos Saved My Life, apart from having one of the best titles of any Fringe show ever, is crafted storytelling at its very best. It demonstrates that you don’t need a huge set or full-on theatrical extravaganza to engage, just an authentic, genuine story told well. All profits are always given to cancer or theatre charities, and this year they go to Summerhall, so you’ll be contributing to a great cause whilst enjoying one of the most uplifting hours on the Fringe.
